Monday, January 2, 2012

Finally

I have been delinquent with posting because I was holding onto the belief that I would soon be able to post the story of my first steelhead. We have been trying hard again this winter to track down the elusive silver tricksters. Chris finally caught his first one with a local guide on the Stamp River using a drift boat. He will post that story and pictures soon. I have even prepared a post full of beautiful pictures of all the places I have failed to catch Steelhead but have been unable to make myself hit the publish button.

Chris had to work yesterday but the Jester and I found ourselves free of family and job obligations on New Years Day so we made a plan to head to the river. We got a later than usual start and did not make it to the water until 9:30. The drive to Port Alberni was filled with conversation about how low our expectations were for the day. The cruel world of Steelhead had finally begun to crush out spirits, I could not even muster the usual comments about how just being out there is enough.

The 30 minute hike to the top secret fishing hole was cold, snowy, slippery and soggy. For the first time ever on a fishing trip I found myself daydreaming of the warm bed I had left behind. We reached the shore and I quickly snapped my shiny blue Loomis together and scrambled to the prime spot. I learned a long time ago to prepare my gear at home so I could beat the boys to the water while they are tying their lines.

My first cast was a test of my weight, tension and the drift of the river. The water level had risen significantly since we were there the previous week. Cast number two was a perfect arc into the white water and a long drift to the pool of swirling water which we had been told occasionally plays host to some resting Steelies. 1...2...3... FISH ON!!! The bite of a Steelhead is unlike any other fish I have played. There was no tentative nibble, he bit strong and then began to run. I whooped with joy, the Jester dropped his half tied line and grabbed the camera to snap this shot.I played the fish for about fifteen minutes. He was a big silver beauty with the tell tale red streaks of a Steelhead. I began to slowly back up onto the rock shore to bring him closer to the Jester's waiting hands. As he rose to the surface in front of us we could see that he was a wild Steelhead (the hatchery removes the adipose fin before releasing them and these are the only ones available for retention on this river) so we knew we would be releasing him. Steelhead rub their faces on the rocks to try and get free from the hook. We did not want to hurt this beautiful fish so the Jester reached for the line to pull him onto the flat rocks. At that moment to hook slipped out, the fish flashed me a smile and he shot back into the fast water like a silver bullet.

I was sad that I did not get a picture with my first Steelhead but l have a great video of the fight that I will edit and post soon.

After a quick high five my line was once again drifting down the river and three casts later... FISH ON!!! Another wild one with a fantastic fight.

The Jester got in on the action as well and his second fish was a beautiful 8lb hatchery male that we wanted to bring home for dinner. My 28 year old grizzly buddy turned into a little boy.. The moment i snapped this picture he was shouting Weeeeeeehoo!!He was fighting hard and I knew it would take awhile so I tossed my line in again and FISH ON!!! So we had a Steelhead Doubleheader! I'm sure our whooping could be heard by the bears hibernating nearby. Kris landed his fish and the smile on his face says it all.The action was strong for about two hours and we loved every cold, wet second of it. Now I understand why people get hooked on this, those two hours immediately made the hundred of unsuccessful hours worth it!